Astana Names Contador As Astana Team Leader

Astana has chosen former yellow jersey champion Alberto Contador as team leader for the Tour de France, which begins in Monaco and will run from July 4-26.

Contador, who won the 2007 Tour de France but did not compete last year, is the pre-race favourite to succeed Spaniard Carlos Sastre.

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will be one of the key riders in the Kazakhstan-sponsored team, making his return to the race since he retired in the wake of his seventh consecutive victory in 2005.

As well as Armstrong, fellow American Levi Leipheimer and German Andreas Kloden have been included in the nine-man team.

Comments

i wonder how this will play out for astana. i still consider armstrong to be a contender, and this is supposed to be his comeback year. with contador announced as the team’s leader, i wonder if armstrong will compromise another shot at the title.